I have recently invested in a digital SLR for the primary use of taking before and after photos to build up a portfolio. I have to say it along with loupes it is definitely the best investment in my career I have made. So I thought I will give an introduction into my new purchase.
So where does the camera stand in the world of dentistry…
1. Before photos – these pictures are ideal for the patients to tell you exactly what they don’t like about there teeth.
2. After photos – this is beneficial for the patient as well as yourself. After photos are good in showing the results a certain intervention has achieved either oral hygiene or bleaching. After photos can be very satisfying and a chance to show off!
3. Clinical records – photos can be the best way to keep an eye on certain things, such as oral medicine lesions, tooth wear and recession to name a few. The old saying of a picture paints a thousand words comes to mind.
4. Shade taking – photos of the shade tabs near adjacent teeth can be sent to the lab to aid in matching crown and bridge work. Photos of the contraleteral teeth are good in matching characteristics when doing single unit anterior crown work.
So what do you need? To get clear reproducible photographs the gold standard is:
1. A digital SLR camera (body) – anything that allows to input the following settings,
· 1/200 shutter speed
· F-stop of up to 25
· ISO 100
Most SLR cameras allow you to do this and its just a choice of preference, the one I purchased was the Canon 450d. The camera also comes with a normal everyday lens so can be used for fun as well as work.
2. A 105mm macro lens – this lens allows you to get clear and concise photographs without being uncomfortably close to the patient. The one I got was the Sigma MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG. Make sure you get the right fit for your camera, i.e. Sigma do a Canon or Nikon fit etc.
3. A Ring flash – The cameras normal flash is not good enough to illuminate the small aperture of the lens so a ring flash is needed. There are a lot of these on the market, the one I went for was the Sigma EM-140 DG. Again make sure you get the right fir for your camera.
Shop around for the best price, you will be able to pick up good bargains on eBay etc. As far as the settings set the following into manual :
· 1/200th sutter speed
· F22 for close up shots and F5 for facial shots
· ISO 100 or the lowest available on the camera.
And I think that’s about it. Let me know of any questions you may have.
Click on the photo to get an idea of some of the clarity and quality you can get with an SLR camera.
Zaid
#1 by ChrisO'C at November 5th, 2009
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Great post zaid thanks for sharing!
You know I used to think that dental photography was so difficult but it really is simple.
All you need is a decent SLR, macro lense, ring flash and some retractors.
Either use the manual setting as zaid describes or just swivel the dial to A (so you control aperture) and wheel to F22 for close ups and F5 for portrait shots.
The apeture or F value just sets the depth of focus. This is why is zaid’s picture you can see all the teeth are still in the focus. If the F value was 5 only the incisors would be in focus.
The other 2 top photography tips I have picked up are to use black paper or a contrast behind upper anteriors for some shots and remove the flash and shine it from different angles to give the technicians more idea of the surface detail of a tooth (how the light reflects from various angles).
Picasa is also a good free programme for simply storing and cropping the photos!
Obviously you can take dental photography a long way (did anyone see the 8 edition guide in the BDJ recently!) But I think for most of us clear in focus pics are all we need, quick, reliable easy!
#2 by San Luis Obispo Cosmetic Dentist at November 6th, 2009
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yeah friend you are right that digital image is a good way to keep keen eye on certain points, that help a lot in ensuring the progress.
#3 by Dhru Shah at November 7th, 2009
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Dear Zaid
That is a very good post and also your technique is definitely well explained. I tend use F stop of 22 as well but a shutter speed of 1/60 which is much slower
My photos are largely of soft tissues rather than teeth and I guess that makes the difference
Mike Sharland calls himself the digitaldentist and he has started writing articles in photography on my website – http://www.dentinaltubules.com – and will do so every 2 weeks.
May also be worth looking at these as his tips are equally useful
Thanks
Dhru
#4 by Dhru Shah at November 7th, 2009
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I must also add one thing that I have been taught in my masters programme
That is if you take anterior shots, try to crop it to extend only as far as the upper 4s. Then focus on the canines rather than the incisors and all your teeth will appear in sharp focus
#5 by Pete Buchan at November 9th, 2009
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Buy a camera….. take photos of everthing….
lots of befores and lots of afters……
Do post cementation shots 2 weeks after fit so that the gingivae look perfect. Cementation remnants and blood spoils the photo.
Take stump shades photos for tech as well….. they like that….
Send your after shots back to the tech…. they really like that! Builds a really good relationship.